Card holder for vehicles

ABSTRACT

A card holding device is provided which is mounted to a vehicle dashboard for conveniently retaining a parking card, or the like, when not in use. A lock mechanism including a solenoid is connected to the vehicle ignition switch to prevent unauthorized removal of the card when the vehicle is left unattended.

United States Patent [191 Wilkinsonv [451 Dec. 3, 1974 CARD HOLDER FORVEHICLES [76] Inventor: Lawrence H. Wilkinson, 718 Encino P1,, N.E.,Albuquerque, N. Mex. 87106 [22] Filed: May 1, 1973 [21] Appl. N0.:356,079

52 us. Cl. 70/255, 70/389 Int. Cl E05b 65/12 [58] Field of Search70/276,277, 278, 413,

70/389, 390, 387, 405, 237, 258, 255, 58; 40/10 A, B, R, 15 A, 17, 18, A

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 429,795 6/1890 Pusey 70/390x 745,355 11/1903 Walbridge.... 70/390 1,500,028 7/1924 Morrison /15 R1,590,006 6/1926 Wcrley /255 1,628,525 5/1927 Bell 40/15 A 2,151,1133/1939 Jac0bi.... 70/81 X ,3,595,042 7/1971 Sedley.... 70/276 3,636,745l/l972 Green 70/281 3,705,277 12/1972 Sedley 200/45 3,708,032 1/1973Suzuki /114 Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe Attorney, Agent, orFirm-Clarence A. OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [57] ABSTRACT A card holdingdevice is provided which is mounted to a vehicle dashboard forconveniently retaining a parking card, or the like, when not in use. Alock mechanism,including a solenoid is connected to the vehicle ignitionswitch to prevent unauthorized removal of the card when the vehicle isleft unattended.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures CARD HOLDER FOR VEHICLES The presentinvention is generally related to vehicle accessory holders and, moreparticularly, to a unique device for holding parking cards, or the like.

' In recent years, credit. cards and the like have become most popularand are used for nearly every type of purchase and transaction. This isparticularly true of vehicle related purchases and services, where cardsmay even be used for gaining access to automated parking lots.Heretofore, the use of such credit cards has been rather bothersome tothe vehicle operator, as he had to reach in his back pocket to removehis wallet to get the desired card. Therefore, it would be mostdesirable to provide a means of holding vehicle parking cards and thelike within easy reach of the driver, such that the cards may beretrieved with a minimum amount of effort.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel device forholding parking cards, or the like, within easy reach of the driver forconvenient storage and retrieval, as desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a unique cardholding device including means for preventing unauthorized removal of acredit card, parking card, or the like held by the device.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a versatilecard holding device including a solenoid operated lock mechanism whichprevents removal of the card unless the vehicle ignition switch isturned on.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novel cardholding device which is convenient to operate, includesa minimum numberof moving parts, is durable, long lasting, easy to install, andeconomical to manufacture and maintain.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafterdesc'ribed and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. I is a perspective view of a typical'vehicle dashboard with' thecard holding device of the present invention installed therein. 3

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the card holding device of the presentinvention with a typical parking card inserted therein.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 3, but with the card lockedin place.

Referring now, more particularly, to FIG. I of the drawings, the cardholding device of the present invention is generally indicated by thenumeral and is illustrated as being mounted in a typical vehicledashboard panel 12 provided with a conventional vehicle ignition switch14. The card holding device is provided with a framework or housing 16which is provided with a card-receiving slot or opening 18 into which aparking card 20 or the like may be conveniently inserted. Preferably,the card is held in the slot and stored there when not in use. When thevehicle operator requires use of the card, for example, in the event ofa purchase, or to gain access to an automated parking lot, the card maybe easily removed from the device which is within convenient reach ofthe vehicle operator. However, the device is provided with a lockingmechanism which prevents removal of the card in the event that thevehicle ignition switch is turned off, as hereinafter explained.

Referring now, more particularly to FIGS. 24, the structure andoperation of the card holding device of the present invention may bemore fully understood. The device is provided with a housing orframework 22 which is appropriately fastened to the vehicle dashboard byway of brackets 24, or other appropriate means. Of course, if desired,the device may be mounted separate from the vehicle dashboard, but stillwithin convenient reach of the vehicle operator. A solenoid 26, or otherappropriate means of actuation is mounted to housing 22 and is providedwith an elongated actuator 28 which is reciprocated upon energization ofthe solenoid to lock or unlock the card holding device. A lever member30 is pivotally mounted on top of housing 22 and is provided with a camsurface 32 which is engaged by the end of actuator 28. Lever member 30is also provided with a finger portion 34 having a lower surface inengagement with a lockpin 36 which is reciprocally mounted to housing22. A coil compression spring 38, or other biasing means, is disposedbetween an enlarged head portion 39 of the locking pin and housing 22,such that it influences the pin upwardly into engagement with levermember 30.

Card 20 is provided with an aperture 40, or other appropriateirregularity on its surface which is retentively engaged by locking pin36 when it is depressed to the locked position. When card 20 is fullyinserted into the receiving slot 18 of the card holding device, opening40 is in general alignment with locking pin 36. With the vehicleignition switch in the on" position, solenoid 26 is conditioned to holdactuator 28 in the retracted or open position illustrated in FIG. 3. Inthis condition, locking pin 38 is in an uppermost position, such that itdoes not interfere with removal of the card from the receiving slot. r Ir When the vehicle ignition switch is turned off, solenoid 26 isappropriately operated, preferably by deenergization thereof, to causeactuator 28 to move to the right as illustrated in FIG. 4. The end ofactuator 28 presses against cam surfaces 32 of lever 30, causing it topivot in a clockwise direction to a locked position as shown in FIG. 4.This movement, in turn, depresses actuator pin 36 against the bias ofspring 38, such that the lower end of the actuator pin extends into thecard opening 40. With the pin in the locked position, it is impossibleto remove the card from the holding device without destroying the cardor causing significant damage thereto.

From the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the cardholding device permits the insertion or removal of a card when solenoid26 is appropriately actuated to withdraw the lockpin 36. Preferably,this condition occurs when the solenoid is energized. However, ifdesired, an appropriate solenoid control arrangement may be provided toprovide this condition when deenergized. It should also be noted thatactuators, other than solenoids, may be provided to effect operation ofthe locking mechanism. For example, vehicle vacuum or fluid pressure maybe utilized to maintain the mechanism in an unlocked condition until thevehicle engine is shut off and a corresponding drop in pressure orvacuum permitting movement of the locking pin to the locked position.Such arrangements would be provided with other appropriate springs orbiasing means to overcome the bias of spring 39 to move the locking pinto the locked position.

Also, in order to prevent the card from dropping when the lock pin 36 isretracted, the housing 22 has one or more bowed leaf springs 42 mountedthereon in any suitable manner and frictionally engaging the cardthrough an appropriately located notch 44. This structure prevents thecard from falling out due to vibrations or gravity when going uphill aswould occur during normal operation of the vehicle. Further, multiplecard holding devices may be built in when constructing the dashboard orinstrument panel or one or more card holding devices may be added on toan existing vehicle as an accessory. The term vehicle as used in thisapplication is intended not only to include automobiles but all types ofover-the-road vehicles, boats and other water vehicles, airplanes andother airborne craft and any other suitable vehicle. Additionally, thelocation of the aperture in the card and the location of the locking pinmay be varied to eliminate any problem of reduction in the informationcarrying space on the card.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a mounting panel having a slot formed therein, a flatelongated hollow housing having at least one open end and a pair ofopposing large plan area longitudinal side walls interconnected alongcorresponding longitudinal edges by a pair of opposing small plan arealongitudinal side walls extending and secured therebetween, meanssupporting said housing from one side of said mounting panel with saidone open end registered with said slot, whereby a card may be insertedinto said slot from the other side of said mounting panel for at leastsubstantial displacement of the first inserted end of said card intosaid housing, one of said large plan area side walls having an openingformed therethrough, an elongated locking pin plunger disposed generallynormal to said one side wall, means supporting said pin plunger fromsaid one side wall for lengthwise reciprocation of said pin through saidopening between an extended position with said pin plunger projectinginto the interior of said housing and a retracted position with said pinplunger retracted from the interior of said housing, means connectedbetween said pin plunger and said one side wall yieldingly biasing saidpin plunger toward its retracted position, a lever pivotally supportedfrom the exterior of said one side wall for oscillation about an axisextending transversely of said lever intermediate its opposite ends andgenerally paralleling said one side wall, one end of said lever beingdisposed outwardly of and comprising an abutment defining the outerlimit of movement of the outer end of said pin plunger, solenoid meanscarried by said one side wall and including a reciprocal actuatorshiftable between extended and retracted positions and normally biasedtoward the extended position, said actuator including an operativeconnection with the other end of said lever to allow oscillation of thelatter to a position permitting retraction of said pin plunger and toshift said lever to a position moving said pin plunger to the extendedposition therof upon deactivation of said solenoid means, said pinplunger, when in the extended position, being adapted to be receivedthrough a bore formed through a card positioned in said housing with thebore registered with said opening to lock said card in said housingagainst retraction therefrom.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said path of reciprocation of saidactuator generally parallels said one side wall.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting panel comprises aportion of the dashboard of a vehicle.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said vehicle includes an ignitioncircuit, said solenoid means being electrically connected in saidignition circuit for actuation of said solenoid means in response tosaid ignition circuit being closed.

1. In combination, a mounting panel having a slot formed therein, a flatelongated hollow housing having at least one open end and a pair ofopposing large plan area longitudinal side walls interconnected alongcorresponding longitudinal edges by a pair of opposing small plan arealongitudinal side walls extending and secured therebetween, meanssupporting said housing from one side of said mounting panel with saidone open end registered with said slot, whereby a card may be insertedinto said slot from the other side of said mounting panel for at leastsubstantial displacement of the first inserted end of said card intosaid housing, one of said large plan area side walls having an openingformed therethrough, an elongated locking pin plunger disposed generallynormal to said one side wall, means supporting said pin plunger fromsaid one side wall for lengthwise reciprocation of said pin through saidopening between an extended position with said pin plunger projectinginto the interior of said housing and a retracted position with said pinplunger retracted from the interior of said housing, means connectedbetween said pin plunger and said one side wall yieldingly biasing saidpin plunger toward its retracted position, a lever pivotally supportedfrom the exterior of said one side wall for oscillation about an axisextending transversely of said lever intermediate its opposite ends andgenerally paralleling said one side wall, one end of said lever beingdisposed outwardly of and comprising an abutment defining the outerlimit of movement of the outer end of said pin plunger, solenoid meanscarried by said one side wall and including a reciprocal actuatorshiftable between extended and retracted positions and normally biasedtoward the extended position, said actuator including an operativeconnection with the other end of said lever to allow oscillation of thelatter to a position permitting retraction of said pin plunger and toshift said lever to a position moving said pin plunger to the extendedposition therof upon deactivation of said solenoid means, said pinplunger, when in the extended position, being adapted to be receivedthrough a bore formed through a card positioned in said housing with thebore registered with said opening to lock said card in said housingagainst retraction therefrom.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidpath of reciprocation of said actuator generally parallels said one sidewall.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said mounting panelcomprises a portion of the dashboard of a vehicle.
 4. The combination ofclaim 3 wherein said vehicle includes an ignition circuit, said solenoidmeans being electrically connected in said ignition circuit foractuation of said solenoid means in response to said ignition circuitbeing closed.